"How to photograph watches" - part two

pugwash · 03-18-2006, 10:06 AM

(reprinted from Tea-Are-Sea)

So, did you all take a nice pic of your watch lesson one style? Great, because today, I felt inspired by a new trader. He sells lots of Panerais, which don't appeal to me yet - but I'm sure they will one day, and his pics are all a little blurred with the reflection of the camera in the sapphire.

So, jjs_swiss_store, this one's for you.

The Stock Shot

So, instead of the planned composition and lighting and stuff I was going to do, I've decided to show you how to do a simple sell-your-watch stock shot, just like this:

Once again, I've got my expensive, flashy camera and lighting kit out and ... used it to take pics of how to do it without the good stuff.

Equipment
What you'll need for this lesson is a camera, a watch, a table, some printer paper, a table or spot lamp and, er ... um, a pillowcase or similar. Oh, and maybe a few CD cases or similar to sit stuff on.

Put a few CD cases on the table, put some paper on top and place the watch in an interesting pose, maybe like the one above, or similar. Don't do it face on to the camera, but use an interesting angle that won't show reflections of the camera on the sapphire.

Then, get anything like a book or a mug to curve the paper up behind the watch. This is your basic white background that shows off best the watch. Black can be used if you have it, like a t-shirt or something, but expect a call from Neil's lawyers claiming you're cramping his style.

Next, put the lamp next to the still life with watch you've created, turn *off* the flash, set your timer to ten seconds (you may or may not need the camera set to Macro) and press the button!

Take a few pictures like that, making positional changes here and there and then take the camera to your computer. Leave the still-life there, as we'll be coming back once we've seen how terrible the pictures are.

Firstly, we forgot to clean the watch. Oops, out with the cleaning cloth and polish up that beauty. Secondly, the shadows are harsh, almost was bad as the flash, but they're at funny angles and the light is too strong and ... relax. We've got this covered.

What we need is some way to diffuse the light. Something to make it less harsh, like a lampshade, or ... a pillowcase! Excellent, now look at the pictures you took and see what pose works best. Next, move the camera back a bit, creating more white space around the watch, and as before, set the timer and everything. Now, hopefully your timer will give you ten seconds to be a lighting rigger.

Click the button, and move over to the lamp and gently put the diffuser (pillowcase, carrier bag, whatever) between the lamp and the watch and wait until the pic is taken. do a few more shots like this, making adjustments as you see fit.

Once this is done, upload the pics to your PC and check out the quality. Better, eh?

Now, feel free to take shots from different angles like the back or of the crown, if you want to show people all the specifics. However, less is better. Two or three good shots of a watch should be enough to convince anyone of the quality.

If you want, you can crop the picture down to a better composition, but we'll go into that in much more detail about that another day.

Feel free to post pics of your watches here or in eyecandy to show off your new learned techniques.

johhnyq · 06-27-2008, 02:52 AM

thanks for part two ! good information.

rockyrockwell3 · 08-26-2008, 10:58 AM

"2 or 3 shots are good enough to show quality"

great advice there, never crossed my mind. i used to just OD on posting from every angle. less work for me lol

Snoopy · 08-28-2008, 09:59 AM

Great photography.

kylechx · 06-03-2009, 12:39 PM

another good one!

basler30 · 08-12-2009, 07:22 PM

I `ve just started taking pictures on my watches and every single tip is welcomed. :roll:
Nice reading ......
Five Great Flash Techniques To Improve Your Photography Light

http://www.diyphotography.net/five-grea ... aphy-light

Dr.Verylong · 08-17-2009, 03:18 AM

Thank you for the advice. Now I know why all my photos look so sh*tty

Dr.verylong

acharria · 12-16-2009, 09:09 AM

pugwash

It's getting better...
Tks a lot.

relayman · 12-16-2009, 10:15 AM

Part one and Part two are terrific, but did I miss the part about getting the super model? Or, are we just not far enough along to consider getting and shooting a super model yet?

)

WatchDoc · 03-28-2010, 07:54 AM

HUGE help, thanks. 10 sec timer. Sooo simple, but until you read it, soo not obvious to a novice.

03-18-2006, 10:06 AM	#1
pugwash VIP MEMBER / SUPPORTER! Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 7,392	"How to photograph watches" - part two (reprinted from Tea-Are-Sea) So, did you all take a nice pic of your watch lesson one style? Great, because today, I felt inspired by a new trader. He sells lots of Panerais, which don't appeal to me yet - but I'm sure they will one day, and his pics are all a little blurred with the reflection of the camera in the sapphire. So, jjs_swiss_store, this one's for you. The Stock Shot So, instead of the planned composition and lighting and stuff I was going to do, I've decided to show you how to do a simple sell-your-watch stock shot, just like this: Once again, I've got my expensive, flashy camera and lighting kit out and ... used it to take pics of how to do it without the good stuff. Equipment What you'll need for this lesson is a camera, a watch, a table, some printer paper, a table or spot lamp and, er ... um, a pillowcase or similar. Oh, and maybe a few CD cases or similar to sit stuff on. Put a few CD cases on the table, put some paper on top and place the watch in an interesting pose, maybe like the one above, or similar. Don't do it face on to the camera, but use an interesting angle that won't show reflections of the camera on the sapphire. Then, get anything like a book or a mug to curve the paper up behind the watch. This is your basic white background that shows off best the watch. Black can be used if you have it, like a t-shirt or something, but expect a call from Neil's lawyers claiming you're cramping his style. Next, put the lamp next to the still life with watch you've created, turn off the flash, set your timer to ten seconds (you may or may not need the camera set to Macro) and press the button! Take a few pictures like that, making positional changes here and there and then take the camera to your computer. Leave the still-life there, as we'll be coming back once we've seen how terrible the pictures are. Firstly, we forgot to clean the watch. Oops, out with the cleaning cloth and polish up that beauty. Secondly, the shadows are harsh, almost was bad as the flash, but they're at funny angles and the light is too strong and ... relax. We've got this covered. What we need is some way to diffuse the light. Something to make it less harsh, like a lampshade, or ... a pillowcase! Excellent, now look at the pictures you took and see what pose works best. Next, move the camera back a bit, creating more white space around the watch, and as before, set the timer and everything. Now, hopefully your timer will give you ten seconds to be a lighting rigger. Click the button, and move over to the lamp and gently put the diffuser (pillowcase, carrier bag, whatever) between the lamp and the watch and wait until the pic is taken. do a few more shots like this, making adjustments as you see fit. Once this is done, upload the pics to your PC and check out the quality. Better, eh? Now, feel free to take shots from different angles like the back or of the crown, if you want to show people all the specifics. However, less is better. Two or three good shots of a watch should be enough to convince anyone of the quality. If you want, you can crop the picture down to a better composition, but we'll go into that in much more detail about that another day. Feel free to post pics of your watches here or in eyecandy to show off your new learned techniques. __________________

06-27-2008, 02:52 AM	#2
johhnyq I Think I Like The Darkside! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: EU Posts: 65	Re: "How to photograph watches" - part two thanks for part two ! good information.

08-26-2008, 10:58 AM	#3
rockyrockwell3 Do Not Sell To Or Buy From Me!!! Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 43	Re: "How to photograph watches" - part two "2 or 3 shots are good enough to show quality" great advice there, never crossed my mind. i used to just OD on posting from every angle. less work for me lol __________________ always leaning, never tilting.

08-28-2008, 09:59 AM	#4
Snoopy I'm Here A Lot! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Up North somewhere! Posts: 146	Re: "How to photograph watches" - part two Great photography.

06-03-2009, 12:39 PM	#5
kylechx I Think I Like The Darkside! Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southern California Posts: 71	Re: "How to photograph watches" - part two another good one!

08-12-2009, 07:22 PM	#6
basler30 I Think I Like The Darkside! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 94	Re: "How to photograph watches" - part two I `ve just started taking pictures on my watches and every single tip is welcomed. :roll: Nice reading ...... Five Great Flash Techniques To Improve Your Photography Light http://www.diyphotography.net/five-grea ... aphy-light

08-17-2009, 03:18 AM	#7
Dr.Verylong WTF? Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Northern Hemisphere Posts: 5,167 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 2	Re: "How to photograph watches" - part two Thank you for the advice. Now I know why all my photos look so sh*tty Dr.verylong __________________ RIP T4D Sinn Regulateur 6100 Technik <here> Sinn Regulateur 6100 Classic B <here> Der Bier-und-Uhren-Thread

12-16-2009, 09:09 AM	#8
acharria Guanaco official Hijacker Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: cali, Colombia. S.A. Posts: 2,467	Mmmm... pugwash It's getting better... Tks a lot. __________________ www achstraps.com We will make your strap idea come true!! www facebook.com/achstraps www youtube.com/achstraps The Pics Hunter... Beware of my Fury!!

12-16-2009, 10:15 AM	#9
relayman VIP MEMBER / SUPPORTER! Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 310	Part one and Part two are terrific, but did I miss the part about getting the super model? Or, are we just not far enough along to consider getting and shooting a super model yet? ) __________________ Cool

03-28-2010, 07:54 AM	#10
WatchDoc Dark Overlord Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: From Philly, USA Posts: 921	HUGE help, thanks. 10 sec timer. Sooo simple, but until you read it, soo not obvious to a novice. __________________ Some people are like slinkies... not really good for anything, but both bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs... ------------------------------------------ Hours online looking at things we want, but of which our wives don't approve. What? NO, it's not porn. It's RWI. You are a sick person. ------------------------------------------ I want watches. I want them ALL!! But, gonna hold off. Right. I mean that is the logical thing to do...Right? ------------------------------------------ How am I since finding RWI? Simple. I've been reduced to a watch craving quivering bowl of goo! Damn you RWI. Damn you to helllllllll My Collection: HERE GENS: Joe Cool Tennis. Maurice Lacroix Retrograde Jours. Matthey-Tissot Auto. Tissot T-Touch Titanium. Seiko Orange Monster on Black Zulu w/ orange stripe. Seiko Black Monster on SS. Luminox 3007 on Gray Zulu. Swiss Army Startech 2000. Herc PAM 006 Homage. Vintage LeCoultre and Wittnauer. REPS: Glaschutte Original Senator Sixties. Omega PO 42mm. Rollie GMTIIc. Breitling Skyland Avenger. ------------------------------------------- The Grail (as someone said...For now.... Click for Larger image)